Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

अथो गिरिजया सार्द्धं महेशो गन्धमादने । एकांते च मतिं चक्रे रमणार्थं स्वरूपवान्

Transliteration

atho girijayā sārddhaṃ maheśo gandhamādane | ekāṃte ca matiṃ cakre ramaṇārthaṃ svarūpavān

Translation

Darauf fasste Maheśa, der strahlende Herr, zusammen mit Girijā in der Einsamkeit des Gandhamādana den Entschluss, sich im liebenden Einssein spielerisch zu ergehen.

Word by Word

• atho: then
• atho: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha + u (अव्यय-सन्धि)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle: 'then/now')

• girijayā: with Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijayā: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक; giri + jā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sārddham: together with
• sārddham: Sahakāraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārddham (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (adverb/postposition: 'together with')

• maheśaḥ: Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक; mahā + īśa)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gandhamādane: on Gandhamādana (mountain)
• gandhamādane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• ekānte: in solitude; in a secluded place
• ekānte: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• matim: intention; thought
• matim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• cakre: made; formed
• cakre: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ramaṇārtham: for enjoyment; for amorous sport
• ramaṇārtham: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक (accusative of purpose)

• svarūpavān: possessing his own form; in his true form
• svarūpavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (मतुप्/वतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gandhamādana

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A secluded Himalayan grove on Gandhamādana: flowering trees, fragrant breezes, a hidden bower; Maheśa and Girijā together, radiant yet modestly composed, suggesting intention for loving sport; attendants (gaṇas) kept distant to preserve ekānta.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśa (Śiva)
• Girijā (Pārvatī)
• Gandhamādana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The divine couple’s presence sanctifies the landscape; sacred geography is shaped by līlā (divine play) as well as tapas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Gandhamādana is highlighted as a sanctified mountain setting within the Kedāra narrative horizon.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the verse sets the scene for ensuing cosmic consequences and dharmic response.